Community Calendar

The 2025 Arkansas Dark-Sky Festival will be held September 19-20 along Bear Creek, just off Highway 65 south of the Buffalo National River, an International Dark-Sky Park.

Rediscover the night sky as it was once known through guided constellation tours, telescopic views of celestial objects, and guest speakers.

Registration is required.

Growing native plants from seed is a good way to pass on a plant’s hardiness and adaptive qualities to the next botanical generation. Fall and winter are often the best times to sow seeds of native plants.
People can learn more about sowing native plant seeds at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) online program Native Plants: Seed Sowing Basics. This virtual program will be from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Sept. 19. This program will not be recorded. People can register for this program at:
https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/210726
At this program, MDC Naturalist Jordi Raos will discuss the best times to sow native plant seeds. She will discuss seed bed preparation and sowing techniques. She will also have information on how to collect and store native seeds for the next growing season. This program is for all ages.
Though this program is free, registration is required to participate. Use the link above. Registrants must provide an e-mail, so a program link can be sent to them. This program will include a chat-based question-and-answer period where participants can interact with the presenter.

Theatre North of 60, an initiative of National Avenue Christian Church, will present a production of the musical Annie September 12-21. This unique staging will bring the classic story to life with a twist: every role, from the feisty orphan Annie to the formidable Miss Hannigan and the benevolent Daddy Warbucks, will be portrayed by actors aged 55 and over.

Annie will be performed in a re-engineered space at National Avenue Christian Church. All shows are free to the public, with donations accepted. Shows include evening performances and matinees on the following dates:

• Friday, September 12 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, September 13 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, September 14 at 2:00 p.m.
• Friday, September 19 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, September 20 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, September 21 at 2:00 p.m.

The Historic Gillioz Theatre Presents:
The Princess Bride

Friday, September 19th, 2025

Doors: 7:00PM
Show: 8:00PM

Ticket prices:
Regular tickets: $12 in advance / $15 Day of
VIP: $25
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The annual showing of The Princess Bride for 2025 will be on Friday, September 19th!

VIP Tickets Include:
One General Admission Ticket
Early Entry
12 Raffle Tickets
Access to the 26 Club Bar

*THIS IS A SHOWING OF THE FILM*

All tickets are general admission.

Come dressed in your finest Princess Bride attire for a chance to win a prize.

The Historic Gillioz Theatre Presents:
Rocky Horror Picture Show

Friday, October 24th, 2025

Doors: 7:00PM

Show: 8:00PM

Ticket prices:

Regular tickets: $12 in Advance / $15 Day of

VIP: $40

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Rocky Horror Picture Show is sponsored by Kaleidoscope

Exclusive VIP Package Includes ($40 with a $52 Value):

One General Admission Ticket

Early Entry

Limited Edition Commemorative T-Shirt

VIP Exclusive Interactive Kit

12 Raffle tickets

Access to the 26 Club Bar

*THIS IS A SHOWING OF THE FILM*

All tickets are general admission.

Come dressed as your favorite Rocky Horror character for a chance to win a prize.

Hunger Action Month is Ozarks Food Harvest’s annual advocacy campaign to raise awareness about hunger in the Ozarks and inspire action in the community. Proceeds from Hunger Action Month will support the Weekend Backpack Program, which provides children facing hunger with kid-friendly, nutritious meals and snacks to take home every weekend of the school year.

Join the movement to end hunger by attending Hunger Action Month events, hosting a food and fund drive, making your business a community partner or spreading the word.

Orange is the color of Hunger Action Month. You can show support for hunger relief by wearing orange on Go Orange Day, September 16.

Presented by Campus Recreation | Family Weekend Event

Start/Finish: Foster Recreation Center
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
Time: 8:00am
$25 Registration Fee (Includes Event T-Shirt)

MSU Campus Recreation will host the Inspire the Roar 5K on September 20. Whether you're a All fitness levels are welcome.

This Family Weekend tradition is more than just a race—it’s a celebration of Bear pride, wellness, and community. Participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt (while supplies last), and awards will be given to top finishers in multiple categories.

Highlights:

• Strollers and well behaved dogs on leashes welcome
• Scenic campus route
• Family-friendly atmosphere
• MSU spirit gear encouraged
• Music, snacks, and a recovery zone at the finish line
  

The Swapalooza Community Garage Sale and Swap Meet Parking Lot Sale will be held at its new location on September 20 at its new location, Doling on Atlantic with indoor vendor booths.

90+ vendors selling a variety of items, including
🔌 Electronics & Home Appliance
📿 Permanent Jewelry
🍋 Fresh Squeezed Lemonade
🛋️ Furniture & Home Décor
👕 Clothing & Accessories
🚗 Tools & Car Accessories
🧸 Kids’ Items & Baby Gear
🎮 Games & Video Games
🕰️ Antiques & Collectibles
🔊 Stereos & Audio Equipment
👒 Custom Hats & Apparel
🍞 Fresh Sourdough & Artisan Breads
🌱 Plants for indoors & gardens
🍪 Homemade Baked Goods
🎨 Handmade Crafts & Artwork
🧼 Goat Milk Soaps & Lotions
💎 Resin Art
🪅 Pinatas & Party Accessories
🪵 Wood Carve Art
🧶 Crochet Items
👜 Upcycled Bags
🥤 Custom Tumblers
🃏 Trading Cards
♻️ Liquidation Resale
🌵 Succulents
🥮 Cookie Cakes

Food trucks will also be on site.

The GLO Market is a monthly event supporting local queer-owned businesses and resources. The market showcases local talent from artists and entrepreneurs.

September is a great month to learn about monarch butterflies in Missouri because this is when these fascinating and beneficial insects are migrating through the Show-Me State on their way to their wintering grounds in central Mexico.

People can learn about monarch butterflies and purchase native plants to improve habitat around their homes on Sept. 20 at the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) program Fall Native Plant Sale and Monarch Festival. These events will be from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at MDC’s Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center in Joplin. The Shoal Creek Center is located at 201 W. Riviera Drive in Joplin.

The importance of having monarchs and other species of butterflies around is about more than seeing pretty insects in flower gardens. Butterflies are a valuable part of a healthy ecosystem. In addition to their habitat value, studies have shown the financial benefits provided to U.S. citizens by the pollination activities of butterflies and other insects can be measured in the billions of dollars.

Just as impressive, but much more mysterious, is the annual autumn migration monarchs make to central Mexico. No monarch makes the trip more than once (the butterflies live about a year). At the Sept. 20 program, education tables will be set up at which people can learn more about this annual monarch migration. Information will also be available about the types of plants that provide good habitat for these colorful butterflies during the time they’re in Missouri.

On the same day, MDC’s Shoal Creek Center will hold a fall native plant sale. People can drop by any time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to purchase native plants for their landscaping needs. Vendors will offer plants and planting advice about native plants and their benefits.

People can go to Missouri Wildflower Nursery at https://mowildflowers.net/ or to Ozark Soul Native Plants at https://ozarksoul.com/ for information about plants that vendors will have at the sale or to pre-order plants.

Registration is not required for the Sept. 20 event at the Shoal Creek Center, but people can learn more at:
https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/210815

People can stay informed about upcoming programs at the Shoal Creek Center by signing up for text alerts and e-mail bulletins. People who have questions about how to sign up for text alerts from the Shoal Creek Center can call 417-629-3434.